Piper PA-46 Runway Excursion at Stilbay Aerodrome (ZS-MHP)

Overview and Flight Details On 12 January 2007, a Piper PA-46-310P with registration ZS-MHP was operating a private flight from George Aerodrome (FAGG) to Stilbay Aerodrome. The pilot-in-command held a valid private pilot licence and had 2,637.04 total flying hours, including 1,303.53 hours on type. The aircraft carried one person on board. ## Accident Sequence The pilot reported that the approach to Stilbay Aerodrome was uneventful until touchdown, when the aircraft encountered wind shear. The pilot attributed the shear to wind blowing from the left just below the tree span along the left side of the approach path. The wind shear caused the pilot to lose directional control, resulting in a runway excursion 20 metres to the left of the touchdown point on runway 27. A hard landing following the wind shear was also considered a contributing factor to the loss of directional control. ## Meteorological Conditions At the time of the accident, conditions were CAVOK with wind from 045° at 12–15 knots, a temperature of 25°C, and broken clouds at 1,800 ft. ## Injuries and Damage No injuries were reported. The aircraft sustained damage to the left main gear, nose gear, and propeller. ## Maintenance Status The last mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) was completed on 10 July 2007 at 1,699.0 flying hours. The aircraft had accumulated 28.0 flying hours since that inspection. ## Probable Cause The investigation identified the probable cause as loss of directional control due to a hard landing following a wind shear condition during landing.